The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's national transport safety investigator. The ATSB's function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport. The ATSB is Australia's prime agency for the independent investigation of civil aviation, rail and maritime accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

The crew reconnoitred the proposed landing site from about 300 feet above the ground and sighted four powerlines. The pilot entered a hover at about 200 feet and then descended slowly. The aircraft maintained a very low forward speed and movement to the right to assist visibility, in case there were other wires yet unsighted. At 130 feet above the ground the pilot suddenly saw a single wire which was already between the cabin roof and the underside of the main rotor blades. He attempted to avoid the wire but it was struck by the main rotors. One blade severed the wire which then slashed the top of the tail fin. The pilot carried out a controlled power-on landing. The single wire powerline was old, its metal had dulled and was unlikely to glint in sunlight. The span between poles was 404 metres. The wire was very difficult to see. This accident was not the subject of an on-scene investigation.